--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Get a day job, make your money from that…" description: "\"Get a day job, make your money from that, and write to please yourself.\" — Harlan Ellison" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b2/harlan-ellison-2133_jobs_get-a-day-job-make-your-money-from-that_1485896.jpg" --- # Get a day job, make your money from that, and write to… ![“Get a day job, make your money from that, and write to please yourself.” quote by Harlan Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b2/harlan-ellison-2133_jobs_get-a-day-job-make-your-money-from-that_1485896.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b2/harlan-ellison-2133_jobs_get-a-day-job-make-your-money-from-that_1485896.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b2/harlan-ellison-2133_jobs_get-a-day-job-make-your-money-from-that_1485896.jpg) > “Get a day job, make your money from that, and write to please yourself.” [Harlan Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-ellison/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Earn a stable income first, then write for personal fulfillment. **In simple terms:** Secure a day job, then write for yourself. Key Takeaway Prioritize financial stability before creative pursuits. Themes writing financial security creativity personal fulfillment career Mood practical realistic motivational Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - freelance writing - side projects - budget planning - career transitions Key Concepts time management artistic integrity self‑expression Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance income needs with artistic goals? - What steps can you take to protect creative time? A Different Perspective Financial pressure may limit creative freedom. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [For people whose job it is to make sure we make money, there's a lot of pressure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-kendrick/for-people-whose-job-it-is-to-make-sure-we-make-money-there-s-a-lot/) [Anna Kendrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-kendrick/) > [Thank your readers and the critics who praise you, and then ignore them. Write for the most intelligent, wittiest, wisest audience in the universe:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-ellison/thank-your-readers-and-the-critics-who-praise-you-and-then-ignore/) [Harlan Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-ellison/) > [ I walked all around it \[the Guggenheim Bilbao\] and couldn't find one clear, clean shot. To make things worse, the weather was lousy. Nothing… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-polidori/i-walked-all-around-it-the-guggenheim-bilbao-and-couldn-t-find-one/) [Robert Polidori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-polidori/) > [You write to please yourself, you write to move yourself, to engage yourself in the asking of questions that are important to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/you-write-to-please-yourself-you-write-to-move-yourself-to-engage/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) > [If you practice for ten years, you may begin to please yourself, after 20 years you may become a performer and please the audience,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-akbar-khan/if-you-practice-for-ten-years-you-may-begin-to-please-yourself-after/) [Ali Akbar Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-akbar-khan/) > [If you want to be a writer, all you need is a piece of paper and a pencil, and I had a manual typewriter.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tama-janowitz/if-you-want-to-be-a-writer-all-you-need-is-a-piece-of-paper-and-a/) [Tama Janowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tama-janowitz/) > [If you want to make a little money, write a book. If you want to make a lot of money, create a religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-ron-hubbard/if-you-want-to-make-a-little-money-write-a-book-if-you-want-to-make-a/) [L. Ron Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-ron-hubbard/) > [Money, money, all is money! Could you write even a penny novelette without money to put heart in you?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/money-money-all-is-money-could-you-write-even-a-penny-novelette/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [Anybody who can write home for money can write for magazines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilson-mizner/anybody-who-can-write-home-for-money-can-write-for-magazines/) [Wilson Mizner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilson-mizner/) > [I don't know a lot of writers, even writers who have been on the bestseller list for a few weeks, or writers who have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-monroe/i-don-t-know-a-lot-of-writers-even-writers-who-have-been-on-the/) [Debra Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-monroe/) > [Don't write for money. Write because you love to do something. If you write for money, you won't write anything worth reading.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/don-t-write-for-money-write-because-you-love-to-do-something-if-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [It's all about the money. Write a check, and you can build anything you want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-brenneman/it-s-all-about-the-money-write-a-check-and-you-can-build-anything-you/) [Greg Brenneman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-brenneman/) > [I don't write for the money. I write because something in me is constantly compelled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-moore/i-don-t-write-for-the-money-i-write-because-something-in-me-is/) [Beth Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-moore/) > [“Money, money, all is money! Could you write even a penny novelette without money to put heart into you? Invention, energy, wit, style, charm--they've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/money-money-all-is-money-could-you-write-even-a-penny-novelette-2/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [Our job is to make change. Our job is to connect to people, to interact with them in a way that leaves them better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/our-job-is-to-make-change-our-job-is-to-connect-to-people-to-interact/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) ## More by Harlan Ellison > [Posing the question: does the god of love use underarm deodorant, vaginal spray and fluoride toothpaste?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-ellison/posing-the-question-does-the-god-of-love-use-underarm-deodorant/) [Harlan Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-ellison/) > [They change scapegoats at the networks more regularly than some people change socks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-ellison/they-change-scapegoats-at-the-networks-more-regularly-than-some/) [Harlan Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-ellison/) > [They minute people fall in love they become liars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-ellison/they-minute-people-fall-in-love-they-become-liars/) [Harlan Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-ellison/) > [Repent, Harlequin," said the Ticktock Man. "Get stuffed," the Harlequin replied.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-ellison/repent-harlequin-said-the-ticktock-man-get-stuffed-the-harlequin/) [Harlan Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-ellison/) > [“Living under the land, under the sea, in the belly of AM, whom we created...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-ellison/living-under-the-land-under-the-sea-in-the-belly-of-am-whom-we-created/) [Harlan Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-ellison/) > [I have no mouth. And I must scream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-ellison/i-have-no-mouth-and-i-must-scream/) [Harlan Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-ellison/) > [There in the midst of the Amazon Jungle, Simon Haskell has cobbled up for himself a replica of an Art Deco salon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-ellison/there-in-the-midst-of-the-amazon-jungle-simon-haskell-has-cobbled-up/) [Harlan Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-ellison/) > [For the first time we have a weapon that nobody has used for thirty years. This gives me great hope for the human race.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-ellison/for-the-first-time-we-have-a-weapon-that-nobody-has-used-for-thirty/) [Harlan Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-ellison/) > [“There are forces in the world today, Mr. Winsocki, that are invisibly working to make us all carbon copies of one another. Forces that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-ellison/there-are-forces-in-the-world-today-mr-winsocki-that-are-invisibly/) [Harlan Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-ellison/) > [“Men rarely (if ever) manage to dream up a god superior to themselves. Most gods have the manners and morals of a spoiled child.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-ellison/men-rarely-if-ever-manage-to-dream-up-a-god-superior-to-themselves/) [Harlan Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-ellison/) > [I write a kind of surreal fantasy, but they can't put 'surreal fantasy' on a paperback.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-ellison/i-write-a-kind-of-surreal-fantasy-but-they-can-t-put-surreal-fantasy/) [Harlan Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-ellison/) > [Don't start an argument with somebody who has a microphone when you don't. They'll make you look like chopped liver.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-ellison/don-t-start-an-argument-with-somebody-who-has-a-microphone-when-you/) [Harlan Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-ellison/) > [“I intend to keep writing stories that piss people off, that tell the particular kind of truth I think is valid, that will make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-ellison/i-intend-to-keep-writing-stories-that-piss-people-off-that-tell-the/) [Harlan Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-ellison/) > [“Who Needs the Taj Mahal when it's a drag to live at all?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-ellison/who-needs-the-taj-mahal-when-it-s-a-drag-to-live-at-all/) [Harlan Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-ellison/) > [Like a wind crying endlessly through the universe, Time carries away the names and the deeds of conquerors and commoners alike. And all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-ellison/like-a-wind-crying-endlessly-through-the-universe-time-carries-away/) [Harlan Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-ellison/) [Explore all 165 Harlan Ellison quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-ellison/) ## More Jobs quotes > [I know for my wife and I, we always loved the idea of being young parents. It is an incredibly inspiring and challenging job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hanson/i-know-for-my-wife-and-i-we-always-loved-the-idea-of-being-young/) [Taylor Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hanson/) > [My first ever job after college was as a flight attendant. I wanted to travel and could not afford it, so I decided to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-winspear/my-first-ever-job-after-college-was-as-a-flight-attendant-i-wanted-to/) [Jacqueline Winspear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-winspear/) > [Jobs and money are never the primary cause of stress. Thinking, negative thinking causes stress. The real cause of all problems lie in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/jobs-and-money-are-never-the-primary-cause-of-stress-thinking/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [Grandma, please. It’s okay. Dad’s doing a great job. I give him kudos for at least being calm and rational, and not losing his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/grandma-please-it-s-okay-dad-s-doing-a-great-job-i-give-him-kudos-for/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [Sometimes it's just enough for me to have the idea. I don't need to see it through to the end. When it actually happens,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-sedaris/sometimes-it-s-just-enough-for-me-to-have-the-idea-i-don-t-need-to/) [Amy Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-sedaris/) > [We have to build our own power. We have to win every single political office we can, where we have a majority of black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fannie-lou-hamer/we-have-to-build-our-own-power-we-have-to-win-every-single-political/) [Fannie Lou Hamer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fannie-lou-hamer/) > [My favorite job is the next one. Its such a gratifying experience getting to creatively keep trying something new and push things in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-craig-smith/my-favorite-job-is-the-next-one-its-such-a-gratifying-experience/) [Roger Craig Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-craig-smith/) > [I can still function when I don't have that balance I crave. I had a tendency to be precious about acting, thinking of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-regan/i-can-still-function-when-i-don-t-have-that-balance-i-crave-i-had-a/) [Laura Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-regan/) > [Musicians talk of nothing but money and jobs. Give me businessmen every time. They really are interested in music and art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-sibelius/musicians-talk-of-nothing-but-money-and-jobs-give-me-businessmen/) [Jean Sibelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-sibelius/) > [We did an episode where she goes out to get a job and she gets fired because she's not good. They hire a babysitter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-heaton/we-did-an-episode-where-she-goes-out-to-get-a-job-and-she-gets-fired/) [Patricia Heaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-heaton/) > [I've never believed unemployment numbers because the way that they calculate unemployment makes no sense whatsoever. It's not how many people are unemployed. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suze-orman/i-ve-never-believed-unemployment-numbers-because-the-way-that-they/) [Suze Orman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suze-orman/) > [We're going to create factory jobs for recent immigrants, and Donald Trump is going to take care of them. That's why his numbers, even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-sessions/we-re-going-to-create-factory-jobs-for-recent-immigrants-and-donald/) [Jeff Sessions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-sessions/) > [Some people, you know, should just go to college and do what they do and have a great job and not worry about trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-legend/some-people-you-know-should-just-go-to-college-and-do-what-they-do/) [John Legend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-legend/) > [Filmmaking, like sex, isn't a polite enterprise. It involves a lot of mess and the bottom line is, if somebody ain't screaming, you're not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-woods/filmmaking-like-sex-isn-t-a-polite-enterprise-it-involves-a-lot-of/) [James Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-woods/) > [I have a question, a question for the president: Do you hate all rich people, or just rich people who don't contribute to your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-have-a-question-a-question-for-the-president-do-you-hate-all-rich/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) [Browse all 14,478 Jobs quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Get a day job, make your money from that, and write to please yourself.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Harlan Ellison" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-ellison/get-a-day-job-make-your-money-from-that-and-write-to-please-yourself/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Jobs" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-ellison/get-a-day-job-make-your-money-from-that-and-write-to-please-yourself/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b2/harlan-ellison-2133_jobs_get-a-day-job-make-your-money-from-that_1485896.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b2/harlan-ellison-2133_jobs_get-a-day-job-make-your-money-from-that_1485896.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b2/harlan-ellison-2133_jobs_get-a-day-job-make-your-money-from-that_1485896.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Get a day job, make your money from that, and write to please yourself.” — Harlan Ellison", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Harlan Ellison", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-ellison/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Get a day job, make your...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-ellison/get-a-day-job-make-your-money-from-that-and-write-to-please-yourself/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-ellison/get-a-day-job-make-your-money-from-that-and-write-to-please-yourself/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```